| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000)
Fiscal Year 2015: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Currently it is thought that NKT cells are generated from CD4/CD8 double-positive (DP) thymocytes by selection on CD1d, a process termed the DP pathway. However, it is still unknown whether NKT cells develop exclusively by the DP pathway in a manner closely resembling that of conventional T cells, or some alternatives to this pathway exist. Here we provide genetic evidences demonstrating the presence of an alternative developmental pathway of NKT cells from CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) stage thymocytes that is before the DP stage by using the DP-specific Rag2 deletion and genetic fate-mapping mouse models. Furthermore, we found that NKT cells generated by the DN pathway possess characteristics of Th1-biased cytotoxic effector cells suggesting this developmental pathway gives rise preferentially to Th1-type NKT cells. Our present findings provide new insights in understanding the development of NKT cells in the thymus, which seems to be different from that of conventional T cells.
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